Vodka Ginger Ale

A Vodka Ginger Ale is an easy-to-make two-ingredient drink – vodka and ginger ale, built directly in a highball glass over ice and garnished with a lime wedge. In many ways, it’s a simplified version of a Moscow Mule – same vodka and ginger combination, just without the lime juice and copper mug.

Smooth vodka, sweet and spicy ginger ale and a lime wedge that adds a zesty citrus edge. Simple, balanced and exactly what it promises. It’s a perfect two-ingredient cocktail.

It’s likely the Vodka Ginger Ale originated as a simplified version of the beloved Moscow Mule, which also combines Vodka with a Ginger-flavored mixer.

Where the Moscow Mule is made with Vodka, Ginger Beer and Fresh Lime Juice, a Vodka Ginger Ale opts for Vodka and Ginger Ale and skips the need for citrus pressing, making it an easier variation.

• Serve ice-cold
  Chill your highball glass in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before serving, and pop your vodka in the freezer too. Make sure your ginger ale is cold before you pour. A chilled glass keeps the ice from melting too quickly and makes a noticeable difference to the overall experience.
• Use ginger ale, not ginger beer
  They might sound similar but they’re very different drinks. Ginger beer is fermented, spicier and more intense. Ginger ale is lighter, sweeter and more carbonated, giving the Vodka Ginger Ale its characteristic smooth, sweet finish. Swap one for the other and you’ll end up with a very different drink.
• Use large ice cubes
  Larger ice cubes melt more slowly than smaller ones, which means less dilution and a colder drink for longer. If you have a large ice cube mould at home, this is the drink to use it for.

• Moscow Mule
  Not so much a variation as a legendary cocktail in its own right – the Moscow Mule is an iconic blend of vodka, ginger beer and lime, served in its signature copper mug. If you enjoy a Vodka Ginger Ale, the Moscow Mule is the natural next step.
• Try a flavored vodka
  Swap Absolut Vodka for any Absolut flavored vodka and you have an entirely different drink. Absolut Vanilia adds a smooth, creamy depth, Absolut Lime doubles down on the citrus and Absolut Raspberri brings a sweet berry twist. The formula stays the same – the flavor is yours to choose.

• Glassware
  Serve in a chilled highball glass filled with ice cubes – the natural home for any built highball.
• Lime wedge
  A lime wedge on the rim is all the garnish this drink needs. Simple, clean and a nod to the citrus edge that ties the vodka and ginger ale together.
• Fresh ginger
  For a more pronounced ginger character, add a thin slice of fresh ginger directly into the glass. It’s a subtle touch that amplifies the spice of the ginger ale and elevates the drink without any extra effort.